100 MS/s, 16-Bit Arbitrary Waveform Generator
Triggering and Sequencing
The NI 5421 has four triggering modes for controlling the starting and
stopping of waveform generation – single, continuous, stepped, and
burst. With these triggering modes combined with the linking and
looping flexibility of the NI 5421, you can create sophisticated
waveforms. With the 256 MB memory configuration, more than
1 million waveforms can be stored in memory and linked in any order.
Each waveform segment can be looped up to 16,777,216 times or
looped indefinitely. Triggers can be received from software as well as the
front panel connectors, PXI trigger lines, PXI star trigger, or RTSI bus.
Software
Every National Instruments signal generator comes with the
IVI-compliant NI-FGEN driver, which is fully compatible with
NI LabVIEW, LabWindows/CVI, and Measurement Studio, as well as
Microsoft Visual C++ and Visual Basic. NI-FGEN also includes the
interactive FGEN Soft Front Panel, with which you can quickly generate
standard signals such as sine, square, and ramp, as well as user-defined
waveforms. Simulation mode is available in both the FGEN Soft Front
Panel and the NI-FGEN instrument driver, so you can develop your
application without having the hardware in your system. In this
mode, several developers can write applications for the same
hardware and share resources.
With the Analog Waveform Editor you can rapidly create or edit
analog test signals for use with the NI 5421. To view or edit existing
waveforms, you can open files saved in binary, ASCII, or the
LabVIEW Express .lvm file format. Alternatively, you can create your
waveform from scratch by selecting from a list of over 20 waveform
primitives, such as sine and Gaussian noise, or enter a mathematical
expression. The Analog Waveform Editor is included with the 32 and
256 MB models of the NI 5421, and is a separate add-on for use with
the 8 MB model.
LVDS Digital Pattern Output
In addition to generating analog signals, the 32 and 256 MB
configurations of the NI 5421 can generate low-voltage differential
signal (LVDS) digital patterns. LVDS is increasingly used for digital
signaling because of its reduced power consumption, lower
electromagnetic interference, and immunity to noise. The digital
patterns generated on the digital data and control (DDC) front panel
connector correspond to the analog waveform being generated and
make use of all of the linking, looping, triggering, and timing features.
The sample clock is also available on the DDC I/O connector to latch
the digital patterns. Alternatively, you can externally clock the NI 5421
via the DDC front panel connector. The NI Digital Waveform Editor
is available as an add-on software package to provide you with further
functionality in creating LVDS digital patterns.
Timing and Synchronization
The NI 5421 sample clock has three modes – Divide-by-N, High-
Resolution, and External. Using the Divide-by-N sample clock, the
jitter of the analog output is <1.0 ps rms and the phase noise is
-137 dBc/Hz (10 MHz carrier, 10 kHz offset). The direct digital
synthesis (DDS) based high-resolution sample clock has a sample rate
resolution of 1.06 µHz, which offers you exceptional stability and
sampling rate flexibility. The NI 5421 can also import its sample clock
from the CLK IN and DDC connectors, PXI star trigger, and PXI
trigger bus or RTSI bus. In addition, you can phase lock the NI 5421
oscillator to an external reference or the PXI 10 MHz reference clock.
With synchronization, you can create mixed-signal test systems by
combining the NI 5421 with other modular instruments such as the NI
5122 digitizer and/or the NI 655x digital waveform generator/analyzer.
You can also synchronize two or more NI 5421 modules to build a
multichannel phase coherent AWG, important for applications such as
I and Q signal generation or antilock brake system simulation.
To trigger other instruments such as oscilloscopes, the NI 5421 can
generate marker event outputs. A marker event can be placed in a
different location in each waveform segment.
Ordering Information
NI PXI-5421
8 MB ..........................................................................778697-01
32 MB, LVDS output ................................................778697-02
256 MB, LVDS output ..............................................778697-03
NI PCI-5421
8 MB ..........................................................................778692-01
32 MB, LVDS output ................................................778692-02
256 MB, LVDS output ..............................................778692-03
Includes NI 5421 module, SMB112 cable, NI-FGEN, and FGEN Soft Front Panel.
The 32 and 256 MB models also include the Analog Waveform Editor.
Software
NI Analog Waveform Editor ........................................778848-01
LVDS Cable
SHC68-68-D3................................................................188143-01
Accessories
Recommended PXI switch
NI PXI-2593 ............................................................778793-01
Related Products
Calibration
Every NI 5421 is factory calibrated using NIST-traceable standards. The
NI 5421 has an onboard calibration reference that corrects for
environmental effects on DC gain, offset, and timing errors. If you want
to calibrate your device externally, return your NI 5421 to National
Instruments or ship it to a qualified metrology lab for recalibration.
NI 5122 High-Speed Digitizer
NI 655x Digital Waveform Generator/Analyzers
NI SCXI-1193 Multiplexer Switch
BUY ONLINE!
Visit
ni.com/products
and enter pxi5421 or pci5421.
2
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